Finally Finally, the first issue of The Manual has just arrived via Mail, from Belfast United Kingdom, with some small notebooks! It contains also a beautiful illustration of Olimpia Zagnoli.
The Manual, a project by Andy McMillan, is a new, beautifully crafted journal that takes a fresh look, in print, at design on the web. Published three times a year—with the first due this summer—each issue will have six substantial, beautifully illustrated feature articles, along with several additional pages of rich material.
The articles focus on bringing a greater depth and maturity to our craft and profession, with contributions in the first issue from wonderfully talented artists and writers such as Simon Collison, Frank Chimero, Liz Danzico, Dan Rubin, Jon Tan, and the Web Standardistas.
Check the website at Alwaysreadthemanual
It is also interesting to see how the project was presented and funded on Kickstarter

Definitly this is has to be my lucky summer: I got the second unexpected gift from the amazing Israeli designer and jourmalist Noa Haim, based in Rotterdam.
This is a pre-cast building blocks made for an installation and event at the Israel Museum of Jerusalem.
I met Noa last April during the Milan Design Week at TUTTO BENE Dutch exhibition.
She is the creator of Collective Paper Aesthetics, a civic game in design models; reloading Buckminster Fuller Octet-truss patent to a series of explorations in objects, space and experience.
Presented at the London Festival of Architecture 2008, this concept has evolved to explore several issues. It blends togheter the notion of architecture as a framework and the idea to use the construction toys (and household accessories) as a game and partecipatory activity.
All the 3d paper creation are made from reused industrial wastes.
The final goal is to allow everyone, no matter its age, to invent structures, and playing about "being a designer".
I wish we'll do something togheter soon!

Several weeks ago I've been in touch with the talented cartoonist Andy Rementer, friend of Cosimo Bizzarri (the amazing copy strategist I use to work).
I would have liked to involve him in a project related with his funny and clever comic strip titled Techno Tuesday.
Unfortunately he is pretty booked up and he can't partecipate in this work project. But today I got a great surprice from him: a letter with few posters, stikers and a short thanks note.
It makes me so happy and grateful to see such a great kindness!